Demonstration of lightweight gamma spectrometry systems in urban environments

Cresswell, A.J. , Sanderson, D.C.W. , Harrold, M., Kirley, B., Mitchell, C. and Weir, A. (2013) Demonstration of lightweight gamma spectrometry systems in urban environments. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 124, pp. 22-28. (doi: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.03.006)

Abstract

Urban areas present highly complex radiation environments; with small scale features resulting from different construction materials, topographic effects and potential anthropogenic inputs from past industrial activity or other sources. Mapping of the radiation fields in urban areas allows a detailed assessment of exposure pathways for the people who live and work there, as well as locating discrete sources of activity that may warrant removal to mitigate dose to the general public. These areas also present access difficulties for radiometric mapping using vehicles or aircraft. A lightweight portable gamma spectrometry system has been used to survey sites in the vicinity of Glasgow to demonstrate the possibilities of radiometric mapping of urban areas, and to investigate the complex radiometric features such areas present. Variations in natural activity due to construction materials have been described, the presence of 137Cs used to identify relatively undisturbed ground, and a previously unknown NORM feature identified. The effect of topographic enclosure on measurements of activity concentration has been quantified. The portable system is compared with the outputs that might be expected from larger vehicular or airborne systems. For large areas airborne surveys are the most cost effective approach, but provide limited spatial resolution, vehicular surveys can provide sparse exploratory data rapidly or detailed mapping of open areas where off-road access is possible. Backpack systems are ideally suited to detailed surveys of small areas, especially where vehicular access is difficult.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Environmental Radioactivity. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 124, 2013. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.03.006
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Sanderson, Professor David and Cresswell, Dr Alan
• Authors: Cresswell, A.J., Sanderson, D.C.W., Harrold, M., Kirley, B., Mitchell, C., and Weir, A.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0265-931X
• ISSN (Online): 1879-1700
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd
• First Published: First published in Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 124:22-28
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher